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Monday, January 16, 2012

I always get
a few questions about my travels, especially about Bali. So here is my Bali
trip tip ramble. I will let you know how I save a few dollars. And what I do to
book my holiday and a few tips on what to look out for and what not to do.

A good place
to start is an Airline. You have a few choices here, travel-agent or book
yourself direct with the airline, or book online but via a third party website.
I prefer to book direct with the airline I watch the sales and request they
send me the sale emails. You can pick up some good cheap priced airfares this
way.

If you choose
a budget airline, like I do. Consider that these airlines add on everything.
They charge for booking seats, extra luggage, entertainment and even food and
drinks.

I travel with
a 40 litre backpack which holds heaps, and it’s within dimensions for hand
luggage. I save money on checked luggage
fees getting to Bali. With having everything with me and that’s “No” lost
luggage. There’s no waiting for luggage on arrival, its straight out the exit
and to the taxi stand.

For the way
home, I buy checked luggage from the airline. I buy a number 7 Bali bag to take
my shopping home in. Most trips it weighs in at around 20 kilo. I also buy a
big roll of tape and wrap it around the bag in-case the zip fails. This way I
only pay for checked luggage once.

Paying to
choose a seat blows! First in best
dressed I say. But I guess airlines are in it for the money and not to help
poor people travel. What you do need to consider is the closer you are to the
front of the plane, the quicker out the airport. But it costs more to sit up
front. If you don’t care where you’re seated, let the airline allocate you a
seat, it’s cheaper.

I always pig
out on food before a flight and take a few snacks on the plane to keep me
going. The only expense is a drink or two. Some airlines have cashless cabins
and require a credit card to pay for your purchases. Others will accept cash in
different currencies, but check with your airline first.

Once my
airline booking is finished. I straight away buy travel insurance. I suggest
you read the policy and the pre-existing condition policy carefully and make
sure it will cover you and your needs. Also make sure it will cover you if the
airline or the hotel goes into insolvency.

Make sure you
have over 6 month’s validation on your passport before you fly. And two blank
pages or you will be refuse entry.

30 days
before travel. You can purchase duty free. Don’t forget you can purchase a
camera, IPod, Video camera, laptop etc etc. And as long as it’s over $300
dollars in value you can claim the GST back. But you need to have the purchased
item with you and a bill of sale/receipt and a credit card or bank account
number. Take it to the TRS office at the international airport you depart
Australia from.

VOA or visa
on arrival is payable in some currencies. I know AUD, UKP and USD are accepted.
They do not accept credit cards. On the visa itself it says $25 USD per person
for 30 days. I always pay in USD. And just watch the dollar/exchange rate and
buy when it’s at its highest. Last trip I payed around $22 AUD to buy $25 USD.

As you come
down the steps or escalators in the airport, to the ground floor. VOA or visa
on arrival is on the left. At the VOA counter I purchased my $25 USD visa and
other Aussies where paying $28 AUD for their visas.It's a little quicker paying with USD.

Usually the
immigration cards are handed out on the plane. But this time they were handed
out after the VOA counter which makes it an even longer process. Make sure you
carry a pen or two with you.

After
immigration you will get the tear-off part back of your immigration card. This
is a departure card; make sure you look after this card and keep it with your
passport. You will need this card and 150 000 rupiah departure tax, to leave
Bali.

Hotel bookings,
you can do things a few different ways here. Directly with the hotel, travel
agent or a third party website. I book directly with the hotel 90 % of the
time. I have book via a third party website a few time. And I have also just
walked up to a hotel and got a room.

Some hotels
require payment up front or a deposit others don’t. I have used either pay pal
or credit card to pay. If you are worried about payment ask the hotel if you
can use pay pal or get a prepaid credit card and just load enough cash on it to
pay the hotel. Or use a third party website to book.

A few things
to think about while booking a holiday. Public holidays, weather/season, exchange ratesand current news.

In Bali they
celebrate Nyepi Day; it’s generally in March/April each year depending on the
lunar phase. The day before Nyepi Day, Bali will start
to shut down for the Ogoh Ogoh parade, which is held all over Bali in different
villages. The parade is fantastic and starts at sunset with flaming bamboo
torches, gamelan music and the monster statues telling a story of how
they rid Bali and themselves of evil spirits. Next morning is Nyepi Day the Balinese will
stay inside their homes and be silent all day. For the tourist they have to
stay with-in the hotel grounds all day till the next morning at 6am. Everything
else is shut. Next morning it’s a public holiday and most of Bali is still
closed. They have a market on Kuta beach, prices are dirt cheap. My tips for
this time are stock up on some drinks and snacks. Don’t leave it to the last
minute as the shops are packed with people shopping. Check with your hotel what
they will do about lunch and dinner. Also make sure you change a little cash to
get you by for a few days. It may pay to rent a DVD player and grab a few DVDs
to watch or a good book.

Remember the
internet is a wealth of knowledge to the traveller. With search engines and
blogs, travel forums and even YouTube, it’s very easy getting up to date
information. It always pays to check out your countries Government website for
travel warnings, before travel.

I change $50
at the airport (as you exit) to some large and small notes to get me by. It’s
always better to change money on the streets. It’s a better rate. When travelling I take some cash and my ATM
card/s and a credit card as back up.

Porters at
the airport will charge like a wounded bull if they can. Don’t let anyone pick
up your luggage. Say “NO” and just carry your own bag/case, or bargain a price
first before he picks your bags up. There is a sign above the carousel and the
price is 5000 rupiah per bag. But I’m sure it will be an argument to get that
price.

Hotel
transfers, there is a few choices here as well. Travel-agent can arrange
transfers for a nasty $60 odd dollars per person, organise a driver yourself
which could cost about $10 - $20. Or turn right as you exit the airport and
book a fixed price taxi, which is the cheapest way to travel. The only other
option is to walk or walk off the airport and catch a local bus. And if you get
a fixed price taxi you have payed all fees, only give a tip if you want. Ask
who is the taxi driver, he is the only person to let help you with your
luggage. Anyone else will ask for payment.

Transport
around Bali. There are plenty of options here, a registered tour guide that is
insured, or a driver off the streets who most likely isn’t insured and this
could be a problem if an accident occurs. Taxis are great for short trips but
make sure they use a meter. It’s better to use the light blue. Bluebird taxis,
if you have to use another taxi company ask for a meter or bargain a price
first. There is also Perama buses which are cheap. If you decide to rent a
motorbike, make sure you have a licence to ride it as your travel insurance is
void, if you don’t and that could get expensive. Also check with your insurance
company if you are covered if you are a pillion passenger on a motor bike.

Booking into
hotels, they all require a scan of your passport. They need it for the local
police. Some hotels want a deposit or a swipe from your credit card, usually
the more top end hotels ask for this. First things first, secure your valuables
either in the room safe or the safety deposit boxes at reception.

Mini bars are
great, but usually expensive. Go out the front of the hotel and somewhere along
the street will be a small shop. I restock the mini bar with my own drinks and
snacks.

Getting
laundry done is a lot cheaper down the road from the hotel.

Internet in
some hotels is free and others charge for it. Some restaurants or coffee
shops/cafes have free wifi if you purchase a drink or a meal. There are a few
internet cafes about, but I would be careful as to what you do with them.

Keeping in
contact with family and friends can get expensive if you use your mobile phone
with global roaming while overseas. I take an unlocked 3g mobile phone and buy
a sim card there and get a recharge at the same time. Texting and phoning is
cheap and with a 3g phone, you can take advantage of the unlimited facebook
some sim cards come with. Keeping in contact on the go can be dirt cheap!

Changing
money on the streets is easy, but choosing the right spot can be hard. I use
the same money changer as much as I can the rate is always good and they are
honest. Things to watch out for, so you don’t get scammed while changing money.
Going to the highest rate on the street will most likely end by losing a big
wack of money. Some are good at the
slide of hand. Which they count the money and then want to count it out again
this is where they will try distracting you usually by his mate doing something
at the other end of the shop so you turn around. And this is when they try slip
a few notes back in the draw and hopefully you don’t notice. Watch places that
have small booths at the back of shops or alley ways and if they start counting
out 20 000 rupiah notes should get the alarm bells ringing. All I can suggest
make sure you count it and are happy it’s all there before you hand over your
cash.

ATM’s are a
good way of getting cash while away , but there is a fee from your bank and a
fee from the owner of the ATM plus a percentage of the total withdrawal , which
can add up to $6 to $8 fee to withdraw some money. But if you are with the
Commonwealth Bank in Australia, you can use a Commonwealth ATM in Bali for a
flat $2 fee. But always check with your bank about fee while overseas and
inform them that you are overseas.

Credit cards
are great backups in-case things go wrong or you spend too much money. But
using one in Bali can get expensive; Check you bank for fees and charges.

Bali money
can be a little daunting at first with note from 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000,
20,000, 50,000, and 100,000. It is easy to get confused between the notes. I
use the thumb rule, were I put my thumb over the last three “0”. Making them
look like this 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and a lot easier to work out without
all the confusing zeros.

Shopping in Bali can be an experience in its
self. The large shopping centres are fixed price. And there are a few fixed
price market shops as well. Which I covered a few in an earlier post.

Most
market and street stalls, you can bargain, a good price for you and a good
price for the shop keeper. That’s what it’s all about.Don’t be
afraid to bargain with just about everything in Bali within reason. Mainly
transport, markets stalls and hotels.

Bargaining is
fun at first, these days I much prefer to go the fixed price shops and have it
over and done with-in an hour or two. But I also think it’s a good idea for the
newbie try out your bargaining skills. A good idea is check out a current price
list that is floating around the internet from time to time. Or visit a fixed
price shop and see what the prices are and what you can aim for while
bargaining.

Hindu is the
main religion in Bali. No one wants to you change faith and become a Hindu, but
it is better to show some respect to their way of life and cultural
beliefs. Cover up a bit if you are not
at the pool or beach. Try not to step on the offerings in front of shops and
businesses. Don’t walk in-front of anyone while they praying. Don’t take photos
without asking first, especially priests /holy men. And don’t put yourself
higher than a priest or an offering. And women menstruating are not allowed in
Temples. Don’t point with a finger; try using your whole hand to gesture what
you want. Don’t touch any ones head or point your feet or show the bottom of
your feet to others, it’s considered bad manners. Never make a promise with
anyone, unless you mean it. Don’t even say maybe or I will think about it. It’s
better to say No thank you. Most of all don’t lose your cool. It will get you
know where, it’s better to state your case in a calm voice.

There are a
couple of scams getting around the streets of Bali. The first one is a survey
they ask you to fill out and later you get a call saying you have won something
but you need to attend a presentation for 30 odd minute you get the prize . The
other is a scratchie card where have a chance to win a prize and again if you
attend a presentation to get the prize. Yep time share scams, just say No
thanks and go about your day.

Another scam
on the streets is name bracelets made from an Australian coins. This scam made
me laugh when I first came across it.
They approach you on the street and show you a few examples of bracelets
“made from a coin” and say if you give them a gold Australian $1 or $2 coin
plus a fee to make the bracelet. I
looked at my friend next to me and laughed and said there is no-way on earth
the size of the coin melted down could make the bracelet, how stupid do these people
think I am. Anyway I said to the guy I would love two bracelets for my
daughters, but I have no coins. He thought for a minute and spoke to the guy
next to him in Balinese. Then turned to me and said, Ok. I said how can you
make it with no coins, he said he had a few extra coins and he could use and
all I had to pay was the fee to make the bracelet. As Charlie Sheen, would say
“Winning”. At the airport at times you will see a porter or cleaner walking
around with $10 or $20 worth of $1 or $2 coins. He is trying to swap them for
rupiah.

Tipping for
some reason in Bali it’s getting the way, were its expected and becoming a
problem. It’s up to you whether you tip or not.

Watch walking
around on the footpaths, at times they resemble goat tracks. With uneven
surfaces and some tops missing off some drains.

Don’t drink
the water or brush your teeth with the water from the tap. Use water from a
sealed water bottle only.

Bali is hot
and humid so you will only need light casual clothing thongs/flip-flops or
sandals. If you plan on trekking up some of the mountains it may be advisable
to take long pants and a jumper as well as sensible footwear. Even bike riding
or rafting it’s better to take sensible footwear.

With the wet
months from October to April the mercury can get pretty high after a rain storm,
not to mention the barometer which would be just about to blow up while nearly
hitting 90 – 100 % humidity. At times
it’s unbearable, and the comfort of a cool pool or an air conditioner is very
welcome, especially in the mid afternoon.

During the
day make sure you keep a good intake of water. And save the beer and cocktails
for sunset.

Slip slop
slap in Bali. Bali isn’t far from the Equator and the sun doesn’t take that
long to cook you. Bring sun screen from home it’s cheaper and I think its
better quality.

Be careful of
crime bag snatches do happen from time to time. Usually by riding past on a
motorbike and snatching it and knocking the poor women to the ground and some
men. It’s better to use a bum bag /fanny pack or even a small backpack, or a bag
which goes across your body.

While I‘m on
the subject of loosing or misplacing personal property. I don’t think it’s a
good idea to carry all your cash in one spot or even your ATM card/cards and
credit card together. Say everything is in your wallet and it falls out your
back pocket on the plane with your cash, credit card and ATM card, what you
will do until you can get them replaced.

It’s a good
idea to make a copy of your travel documents and a scan of your passport
printed out. Carry these separately from your originals documents, just
in-case. I also have a web based email where I can sign in from anywhere. I
also keep copies of my travel documents here as a back-up.

If you go
swimming at the beach in Bali, be careful of rips and strong under currents.
Always swim in the patrolled area of the beach.

Don’t do
drugs in Bali. It could lead to the death penalty.

Outside of the hotel, most toilets are the squat type. Unless
you want use your left hand like the locals do I would suggest to take some
toilet paper or tissues with you. But don’t put the tissues in the toilet put
it in a bin nearby and flush the toilet by either tipping water with a
container that is supplied or a hose in the toilet. Most toilets require a
small fee to use them; it’s good to carry a few smaller notes with you.

Booking tours
before you get to Bali or booking tour while you are there. I think it’s a lot
cheaper to book most tour while you are there. Except it’s getting a bit harder
to just walk up and be able to book some tours these days. There are a few
places that are booked out in advance .Like Bali Dolphin or the elephant ride
at the Marine and Safari Park, Biku and some cooking classes. Everything else
can be booked while in Bali, unless you want to make sure you are doing a set
tour on a set day. Tour’s can be booked at the small tour booths around Bali
and don’t be afraid to bargain a cheaper price.

As I said
earlier, research is the key to a great holiday, find a few blogs and read a
few travel forums to get help from people who have had experience and want to
share their knowledge. But also be careful of the information given to you as
sometimes its outdated or given by someone who thinks they know the answer but
never really used the service or stayed at that hotel. I feel it’s better to
get a few opinions on the subject and not just one.

About me

Chronic travel nut, who wants to see as much of this wonderful world as I can. As a child I have visited many countries and I have lived in the UK twice. As an adult I'm slowly making my way around Asia, for now.

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